Eyeglasses are wearable lenses that correct errors in vision in order to address a variety of common vision issues. Whether you struggle with nearsightedness or farsightedness, your vision has distortions or eye alignment issues, eyeglasses can help your eyes compensate. From sunglasses to reading glasses, these tools grant wearers the ability to see clearly again.
Vision Concerns and Health
If you are experiencing any vision concerns, whether it’s harder to see something up close or far away, it is important to visit an eye health professional to address these issues. Recent studies suggest that hearing and vision loss may increase one’s risk of heart disease and stroke, with an estimated 13% of children and adults in the United States being visually impaired. Receiving proper eye care can be key to addressing other potentially related health concerns, in addition to the benefit of being able to see better.
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How Your Eyes and Glasses Work
You likely know that glasses help wearers see with normal or close to normal vision, but you might not know how they work — you might not even know how your own eyes see. The human eye works by interpreting beams of light, which pass through the cornea and lens of an eye. These parts of the eye bend light to converge on the retina at just the right distance, enabling the brain to interpret images clearly.
However, if you have a refractive area in one eye or both, the affected eye or eyes cannot properly bend the light, resulting in an image that appears unfocused or blurry. The lenses in glasses help to bend the light before it reaches the eye, serving to correct the image for the eye or eyes that cannot. This helps address the four main refractive errors, which are as follows:
- Myopia (Nearsightedness): Those with myopia can see objects that are close by clearly, but objects at a distance appear blurry.
- Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Those with hyperopia experience the opposite, where objects that are close by appear blurry and objects at a distance appear clearly.
- Astigmatism (Tilted or Distorted Vision): In cases of astigmatism, vision is blurry both up close and at a distance. Sometimes it causes visible rays to come off of light sources, often more prominently at night.
- Presbyopia (Age-Related Focus Issues): Presbyopia occurs as a result of age, where individuals struggle to focus on objects due to how close they are.
Identifying the Problem and Finding a Solution
Visiting an eye care specialist will help you identify what vision problems you are facing, and determine what type of eyeglasses you will need to address them. An optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform an eye exam and associated vision tests to determine whether you need eyeglasses and what type of correction will be required.
Tech Trends and the Right Glasses for You
Once the eyeglasses you require have been determined, you will be able to choose a set of prescription glasses that suit your taste. With major tech companies experimenting in smart or AI-powered glasses, it is evident that eyewear is becoming more popular in both fashion and innovation. Though it is uncertain whether they will feature prescription lenses, the increasing prominence of glasses can be reassuring for new wearers.
When you do have your glasses, it might take a few days to adjust (or more depending on the type of prescription), but your eye care specialist will be sure to tell you what to expect. It is important to remember to take good care of glasses, storing them in a hard-shell case when not in use and cleaning them properly.
Recovering Clear Vision
Eyeglasses are one of the best and most consistent ways to experience clear vision in those with vision loss. These tools have been useful for centuries and will continue to be a reliable resource in the future. Be sure to consider your eye health and find out if eyeglasses are right for you.
